Bill Cosby brings his humor/humanity to the Palace

ALBANY -- The difference between a comedian and a humorist is that one tells jokes, the other shares wisdom about life in a humorous way.

To be a humorist, one must understand life and human nature.

Bill Cosby, who is appearing at the Palace Theatre on Saturday, is a humorist. Actually my personal experience with Bill Cosby proves he is more than a humorist, he is also a humanist.

The last time Cosby was in town was at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady on March 6, 2010. A week before his appearance, I did a memorable telephone interview with him to promote the show.

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It started with us exchanging pleasantries. We soon discovered we were of the same generation and had a shared background. He grew up in a tough section of Philadelphia and I did the same in Brooklyn, and our educational paths were similar. We each had stayed married to one woman for a very long time and each was a grandparent.

The interview was fun. I'd ask a question and he would answer the same way he entertains an audience. He'd take a circuitous path filled with quiet humor and wise opinions and just when you think he was rambling he returned to make his point with outstanding clarity.

During the interview, I got another call. It's really bad form to interrupt an interview with anyone, let alone a big-time star who is giving you his time and undivided attention. However, this call was from a hospice worker coming to tend to my wife. I explained to Cosby that my wife's "health-care worker" was on the line and I had to take the call. He graciously understood.

When I returned, he asked again how long I had been married. I replied "44 years." He exclaimed, "I have to talk to that woman. Put her on the phone," he commanded.

I dutifully brought the phone to Carole's bed and put it on speaker next to her ear. Cosby told her that after speaking with me for about an hour, he realized she must be a saint to have stayed married to me for such a long time. He joked with her saying nice comforting things.

He ended by politely asking if she would be able to come see his show the following week. She expressed her disappointment and said no. He, too, seemed disappointed.

I took the phone back to my office and thanked him for his kindness and explained Carole has ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) and that the health-care worker was hospice and Carole did not have long to live.

With genuine concern, he suggested that during his show he would call Carole and leave the cell phone next to him so she could hear his performance. He then said at the end of his act, he'd ask the audience to shout "Get well, Carole."

With the utmost sincerity, he gently asked, "Do you think she'd like that?" I almost had tears in my eyes when I answered, "Yes."

About an hour later, I called Cosby's agent and told of the offer and said not to worry if it was an impulsive gesture. I said the thought and his kindness was enough.

She replied Bill had already called to set the plan in action. The people at Proctors were equally as generous in their efforts to make it happen. Indeed, they said they were going to check with Cosby to see if there was a way to send a live stream of the show to our personal computer so Carole could enjoy the show even more.

I wish the story had a happy ending. It doesn't. Carole passed away the day before the concert.

It really doesn't matter if it happened or not. The fact that so many people worked hard to make Carole's final week a little more pleasant is what I remember and will always be grateful for. The gesture by a famous man to help somebody he never met is one that makes me simultaneously sad and happy every time I think of it.

If you attend Cosby's concert on Saturday, remember this story and applaud, not only for his talent but also for the private goodness of a good man and a great humorist.